Mumbai : 29 July 2026

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), under the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India, has launched two landmark one-time initiatives—VISHWAS, 2026 and AMNESTY, 2026—to facilitate voluntary compliance, resolve long-pending disputes, regularise legacy cases, and strengthen the social security framework for employers and employees.

Both schemes have been notified vide G.S.R. 525(E) dated 29 June 2026 as part of the EPF Scheme, 2026. The schemes came into effect on 29 June 2026 and will remain operational for six months from the date of notification

VISHWAS, 2026

VISHWAS, 2026 is a one-time dispute resolution scheme for amicable settlement of disputes relating to the levy of damages/penalty under Section 14B of the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, and under Section 128 of the Code on Social Security, 2020.

The Scheme seeks to reduce litigation and encourage voluntary compliance by providing employers with a transparent, fully digital and time-bound mechanism for settlement of eligible cases.

The Scheme covers the following categories of eligible cases:

1. Cases where orders levying damages/penalty have been challenged before judicial forums;
2. Cases where final orders have been passed but recovery is pending or partially completed;
3. Cases where notices have been issued but final orders are yet to be passed; and
4. Cases where notices for levy of damages/penalty are yet to be issued.

Under the Scheme, damages/penalty for defaults pertaining to the period prior to 14 June 2024 will be recalculated at substantially reduced rates:

• 0.25% per month for defaults up to two months;
• 0.50% per month for defaults exceeding two months but less than four months; and
• 1.00% per month for defaults of four months or more.

To avail the benefits, employers must deposit the applicable statutory interest under Section 7Q of the EPF & MP Act, 1952 or Section 127 of the Code on Social Security, 2020 as applicable and furnish an undertaking that no further appeal shall be pursued in respect of the dispute settled under the Scheme.

The Scheme also provides for adjustment of amounts already deposited towards damages/penalty and treatment of statutory pre-deposits made while filing appeals. However, establishments where damages/penalty have already been fully recovered, cases involving fraud, misappropriation or deliberate falsification of records, and cases where statutory interest has not been fully deposited are excluded from the scheme.

Applications under VISHWAS, 2026 are to be submitted online through the EPFO Employer Portal using a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) or e-sign facility. The entire process has been designed to ensure ease of filing, online verification, digital processing, and issuance of settlement orders within a defined timeframe.

AMNESTY, 2026

EPFO has also introduced AMNESTY, 2026, a one-time regularisation scheme for eligible establishments operating recognised Provident Fund Trusts on the basis of recognition under the Income Tax Act, 1961 but which do not possess formal exemption notifications under Section 17 of the Employees' Provident Funds & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 or the corresponding provisions of the Code on Social Security, 2020.

The Finance Act, 2026 has aligned the Income Tax framework governing recognized provident funds with the statutory and administrative provisions of Employees' Provident Fund & Misc. Provisions Act, 1952. Recognition under the Income Tax Act, 2025 shall be available only to provident funds that have obtained exemption under Section 17 of Employees' Provident Fund & Misc. Provisions Act, 1952. Amnesty shall be granted to such establishments retrospectively under Section 17 of the Act and Section 143 of the Code on Social Security, 2020.

The Scheme applies to establishments that have been operating recognised Provident Fund Trusts under the Income Tax Act, 1961 but do not possess formal exemption notifications from the appropriate Government.

AMNESTY, 2026 covers two categories of establishments:

Category I: Establishments seeking retrospective regularisation of their Provident Fund Trusts while opting to comply as un-exempted establishments either immediately or from a notified future cut-off date.

Category II: Establishments seeking retrospective regularisation while continuing as exempted establishments under the Code on Social Security, 2020.

Key Benefits and Reliefs Provided

• Retrospective Regularization: Exemption status and Trust recognition will be granted from the inception of the Trust up to the designated cut-off date.
• Waiver of Requirements under the Code on Social Security, 2020: Minimum employee headcount and corpus size rules are waived. The 3-year prior compliance rule is deemed satisfied.
• Abatement of Legal Proceedings: Pending assessments for dues, damages, and interest will be withdrawn and stand abated, provided member accounts received interest and contributions at par with or better than statutory rates. Past finalized orders will be treated as void ab-initio.

Mandatory Employer Obligations:

• Application: Eligible establishments shall submit a formal application addressed to the Central Government in the manner prescribed under the Scheme. Establishments falling within the jurisdiction of EPFO Regional Office, Thane may submit their applications to the Regional Office at the address mentioned below for onward processing. To facilitate timely action, establishments may also submit an expression of interest indicating their willingness to avail the Scheme by email to: ro.thanenorth@epfindia.gov.in.
• Audit Compliance: Financial accounts must be audited by a Chartered Accountant. Special/compliance audits directed by EPF authorities must be completed within 3 months of the application.

For details regarding this Amnesty scheme, part C of Annexure to the Employees' Provident Fund Scheme, 2026 issued vide Gazette notification GSR 525(E) dated 29.06.2026 may be referred to. Additionally, the EPFO website may be referred to, for detailed procedure outlined in Circular, SoP, etc.

EPFO Regional Office, Thane Facilitation

To ensure smooth implementation of these initiatives, EPFO Regional Office, Thane has established dedicated cells to assist employers in understanding the provisions of both Schemes, facilitate online filing of applications, provide guidance during processing, and ensure expeditious disposal of eligible cases.

Employers having eligible pending disputes relating to damages/penalty or exemption-related legacy issues are encouraged to take advantage of these one-time opportunities to resolve long-standing matters, reduce litigation, regularise compliance, and strengthen social security coverage for their workforce.

For further information, employers covered under the jurisdiction of EPFO Regional Office, Thane may contact the office at 6th Floor, Vardan Commercial Complex, MIDC, Wagle Estate, Thane, or visit the EPFO Employer Portal.

PIB Mumbai | Sriyanka Chatterjee/ Priti Malandkar

 

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